CITY TRADING

Southland Times, Issue 23650, 27 October 1938, Page 3

CITY TRADING

END OF SEASON FOR GRAIN AND PRODUCE FAIR SUPPLIES OF FRUIT | By OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOR i Wednesday Evening. I White clover seed is the only branch I of the grain and produce market in Invercargill in which any animation has been shown during the last week. The market for this seed remains firm. The season is almost at an end for’ trading in other seeds, grain and produce and prices are generally at a low level. The fruit and vegetable markets are receiving fair supplies, but there is a scarcity of bananas until the next shipment arrives tomorrow. Apples are still coming forward from cool store. Fresh vegetables are fairly plentiful. Oats.—There is very little business

passing in oats. Buyers of milling oats are showing very little interest and the

shipping business is very small. With the approach of the wool season merI chants are showing a desire to clear their stocks in store. They wish to avoid taking further supplies into store and as a consequence the demand for farmers’ lines is not keen. The value to growers ranges from 2/4 to 2/6 a bushel, according to grade and bushel weight. Wheat.—Business in milling wheat in Southland is practically over for the season and business is confined to the supply of the local poultry trade for which supplies are being drawn from Canterbury. Chaff.—There is no shipping demand and with the advance of the growing season the local demand is very small. It is difficult to absorb growers’ lines which are offering and for which the top price at present is £4 a ton o.t.c.s. 1 Ryegrass.—Stocks of ryegrass are now very restricted and will all be wanted for the farmers’ seed trade locally. In view of the preference given by shipping buyers for certified lines and the extreme difficulty of selling ordinary Southland seed in competition merchants are not encouraging the production of uncertified ryegrass. The market can now absorb only a very limited quantity of this and excessive supplies will almost certainly have the effect of reducing the value to growers. There are now not many lines of last season’s seed offering, but values nominally range from 4/6 to 4/9 a bushel.

Other Seeds.—The market for browntop is very dull because of an absence of overseas orders and values to growers at the present market for machine-dressed seed are 1/- per lb for certified and lid for uncertified. The overseas demand for crested dogstail has quietened, but the value to growers for bright lines of export quality machine-dressed seed is about lOjd per lb. Darker lines are saleable only at a considerable reduction on this price, according to quality. White clover remains firm with values to growers for machine-dressed lines of super quality about 1/3 per lb with lower grade lines about 1/- per lb according to quality.

Potatoes.—No interest whatever is being shown in this market by shipping merchants because of the absence of an outlet. The season for shipping is practically over and it appears unlikely that there will be any improvement in prices this year. The local market is being kept supplied chiefly from lines sent to the salerooms for sale on a commission basis.

The shipment of Australian oranges ex the Waitaki was partly distributed before the week-end, the bulk of the shipment being now out of wholesale hands. The fruit opened up in excellent condition.,

The market is completely bare of bananas, the regular shipment ex the Maui Pomare being due tomorrow. A fairly big shipment of pineapples reached the market this morning, the bulk being cleared at once. New Zealand lemons are plentiful, inferior grades selling at low prices. Hothouse tomatoes are increasing in supply and prices have dropped so that there may be an easing off in consignments during the next few days. Choice quality apples are still coming from cool stores, but supplies will be practically- exhausted within the next fortnight. Fresh vegetables are more plentiful with the exception of caulflowers. Spring cabbages are also hard to procure. ,

Wholesale prices are as follows:—

Apples.—Best Delicious and Sturmer, 19/- to 12/6 a case; others, 8/- to 10/— a case.

Pineapples, 18/- to 22/6 a case. Tomatoes.—Christchurch hothouse, 2/- to 2/3 per lb; small, 1/6J to 1/10 per lb. Californian grapes, 34/- a case. New Zealand lemons. Best quality, 17/6 a case; others, 10/- to 13/-.

Cauliflowers, 7/6 to 9/- a sack. Cabbages, .4/- to 5/- a dozen. .Rhubarb, 1/6 to 3/- a dozen bundles. Lettuce, 2/6 to 3/6 a dozen. Spinach, 2/- to 3/- a dozen bunches. Leeks, 4/- a dozen bundles.

RANGE OF PRICES Wholesale Bran.—£6 a ton. Butter.—First grade, 1/1J; second

grade, 1/li; separator, 9d to lid for best quality. Oatmeal—2s’s £2O a ton; 200’s £l9 a

ton. Pollard.—loo’s £7 10/- a ton; 150’s

£7 5/- a ton. Flour.—2oo’s £l3 15/6 a ton; 100’s £l4 12/6 a ton; 50’s £l4 17/6 a ton; 25’s £l5 17/6 a ton.

Retail Bran.—7/6 per 1001 b. Butter.—l/4 to 1/5; separator 1/- to 1/1. Oatmeal.—s’s 1/6; 25’s 6/9. Flour.—2s’s 4/6; 50’s 8/6; 100’s 16/-. Pollard.—9/- per 1001 b, Potatoes.—l2lb for l/~. Onions.—4lb for 1/-. EGG PRICES Egg prices are quoted at 1/2 to 1/3 a dozen retail, with wholesale prices at from 1/- to 1/1, wholesale merchants disposing of supplies at the latter price.

COMPANY NEWS SHARLAND AND COMPANY (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 26. Shat-land and Company have recommended a final dividend of 2| per cent, a share. HENRY JONES CO-OP LTD. (Unite'd Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 26. The New Zealand Stock Exchange Association has received cabled advice that Henry Jones Co-operative Ltd. has declared a dividend of 1/6 a share. TARINGAMUTU TOTARA

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 26. The directors of Taringamutu Totara Timber recommend a final dividend of 4£ per cent., payable on December 1,